yasin_khan
New Member
Pakistan said Sept. 15 that China has agreed to supply its navy with four frigates, with the $750 million deal all but completed, pending financing discussions.
"The deal is complete as far as its technical details are concerned. We are now finalizing the financing of the deal," Pakistan navy spokesman Commander Aamir Naeed told Agence France-Presse.
"Pakistan is not looking for other options, because such selections are made after extensive studies and negotiations," he said.
The frigates, equipped with up-to-date technology, would carry surface-to-surface missiles, anti-aircraft guns, anti-air defense, torpedoes and anti-submarine warfare helicopters, he said.
The chief admiral of Pakistan’s navy, Shahid Karimullah, said the frigates were acquired to strengthen a fleet that had "far lesser capabilities" compared with arch-rival India.
"There is a colossal disparity between the two countries and it is not to our liking."
He said while India had "no dearth" of weapons supplies from Russia, Pakistan’s armed forces suffered due to sanctions imposed over Islamabad’s nuclear program in the 1990s.
The sanctions were lifted after Pakistan joined the US-led war on terror in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.
Pakistan has since won a spate of economic and business incentives, which helped President Pervez Musharraf steer the economy out of stagnation.
However, Karimullah said despite lifting of the sanctions the country was facing difficulties in finalizing defense deals with European countries.
"We are still feeling (the effects of sanctions). that is the reason why we have decided to go with China," the admiral said.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=356574&C=landwar
"The deal is complete as far as its technical details are concerned. We are now finalizing the financing of the deal," Pakistan navy spokesman Commander Aamir Naeed told Agence France-Presse.
"Pakistan is not looking for other options, because such selections are made after extensive studies and negotiations," he said.
The frigates, equipped with up-to-date technology, would carry surface-to-surface missiles, anti-aircraft guns, anti-air defense, torpedoes and anti-submarine warfare helicopters, he said.
The chief admiral of Pakistan’s navy, Shahid Karimullah, said the frigates were acquired to strengthen a fleet that had "far lesser capabilities" compared with arch-rival India.
"There is a colossal disparity between the two countries and it is not to our liking."
He said while India had "no dearth" of weapons supplies from Russia, Pakistan’s armed forces suffered due to sanctions imposed over Islamabad’s nuclear program in the 1990s.
The sanctions were lifted after Pakistan joined the US-led war on terror in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.
Pakistan has since won a spate of economic and business incentives, which helped President Pervez Musharraf steer the economy out of stagnation.
However, Karimullah said despite lifting of the sanctions the country was facing difficulties in finalizing defense deals with European countries.
"We are still feeling (the effects of sanctions). that is the reason why we have decided to go with China," the admiral said.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=356574&C=landwar